Raid on Osama bin Laden outlined in graphic novel

The daring secret mission to get Osama bin Laden by elite U.S. forces will be told in the pages of a new graphic novel that aims to shed more light — with a bit of creative license — on the event. Written by retired U.S. Marine Capt. Dale Dye and Julia Dye, the 88-page hardcover Code Word: Geronimo is set for release Sept. 6, less than a week before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The book is illustrated by artists Gerry Kissell and Amin Amat and will be released by IDW Publishing. IDW, a San Diego-based publisher, is known for its line of comics that include G.I. Joe, Star Trek and Doctor Who.

New York

Obama avoids gay marriage debate

As a few in the crowd shouted "marriage" and "Do you support it?" at him in Manhattan, President Barack Obama on Thursday evening avoided taking a position on a measure being considered by the New York state legislature that would legalize gay marriage. Instead, he said, "I believe that gay couples deserve the same legal rights as every other couple in this country." In Albany, state Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos ended Thursday's marathon session just before 11 p.m. without taking up a gay marriage bill. The Senate reconvenes at 10 a.m. today to pass more mundane bills before taking up the gay marriage issue.

TRENTON, N.J.

Legislation aims to hike benefits costs

The New Jersey Assembly passed landmark employee benefits legislation requiring public workers to pay sharply more for pension and health benefits. The bill passed 46-32 Thursday with support from all Republicans who were present and a smattering of Democrats. The Senate approved the bill Monday. Republican Gov. Chris Christie is expected to quickly sign it. The measure requires 500,000 teachers, police, firefighters and other public workers to pay a portion of their health insurance based on income. It also increases pension contributions. The state's retirement funds are underfunded by $110 billion.

MINOT, N.D.

Frantic efforts to raise city's levees

Crews worked furiously Thursday to raise earthen levees in a last-ditch effort to protect at least some neighborhoods in Minot from the rising Souris River, even as officials admitted they cannot stop significant damage to North Dakota's fourth-largest city. At the start of the week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had expected about 9,700 cubic feet per second of water to flow through Minot. According to the latest estimate, there will be three times as much water moving through by Saturday. The Souris is expected to peak Sunday or Monday several feet above its historic high set in 1881.